Two Years of Trump on the Psychiatrist’s Couch – Ad Banned by Pinterest

Everyone keeps telling me what a wonderful site Pinterest is and the value of posting information there and of advertising. Frankly, I find it totally confusing but I decided to try it out and set up a Bridgeross Communications board (or is it a pin?). And then I thought I would create an ad which comprised a cover of the Trump book, a link to the Amazon kindle sales page and a brief explanation.

That explanation also comprise a quote from the write up of out two new books from the Hamilton Spectator which said the book “is a fascinating, insightful, often humorous, usually chilling plunge into the coral folds of the brain under that Cheeto-coloured scalp”.

I thought I would test with a $10 limit and, as a publisher, I’ve done these types of ads on both google and facebook.

Much to my surprise, about a day after submitting the ad, I received a rejection from Pinterest that said, in part, that it “didn’t meet our advertising guidelines.”

Specifically:

Sensitive content
We want to keep Pinterest a safe place for discovering possibilities, so we don’t allow divisive or disturbing ads that could trigger users. We don’t allow language or imagery that is:

Like I’m going to do that but since when is it offensive to criticize a politician or any public figure. Libel laws protect people from invalid comments but where is the freedom of speech in the US these days? Where is the 1st amendment?

To date, the book has sold in North America, the UK and Australia and has been bought by libraries in the US, Germany and the Netherlands. But, I guess that it is too sensitive for the poor souls who inhabit Pinterest. Pity!

3 thoughts on “Two Years of Trump on the Psychiatrist’s Couch – Ad Banned by Pinterest”

On the face of it, the decision by Pinterest to block your post seems ridiculous especially in light of everything that men like Jordan Peterson are allowed to post on the site. But, remember, such editorial decision are made by one overworked drone or an algorithm that looks for words or terms that are automatically banned. And so, it may be simply that your submission offended a human Trump supporter or an unsophisticated program.. Your work is important, and needs to be in the public eye and so I would respectfully urge you to rework your submission so it meets whatever “standards” they deem necessary. Your book is essential in the “Trump era” where rational analysis and opinion are absent. Keep up the good work.